Ball-actuated racing game device



April 8, 1952 w. A. MALKAN BALL-ACTUATED' RACING GAME DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 'Filed July 10, 1948 INVENTOR. Mil/4M A. MALKA/V April 3, 1952 w. A. MALKAN 2,591,957

BALL-ACTUATED RACING GAME DEVICE /////////////////////////fll/MM/IMWM T INVENTOR. n/ILLIAM /4. MALKA/V April 8, 1952 w. A. MALKAN BALL-ACTUATED RACING GAME DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 10, 1948 JNVENTOR. Mill/4M 4; Marga/w independently of the control or Patented Apr. 8, 1952 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE 2,591,957

BALL-AO'IUATED, RACING GAME DEVICE William A. Malkan, New York, N. Y. Application July 10, 1948, SerialNo. 38,107

I 4 Claims. 1

This invention relatesto a game device which simulates a horse race or the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a game device in which racing elements are propelled down inclined guide tracks by striking engagement of rollable members therewith.

Another object of the invention is to provide a t I .racing game device of said character in which rollable members are moved into position for striking engagement with the racing elements skill of the players.

Another object of the invention is to provide a racing game device in which certain of the rollable members are interrupted in their movement into position for striking engagement with the racing elements so as to render uncertain the number of rollable members striking each racing element during the game.

Another object of the invention is to provide a racing game device in which the players do not handle or manipulate the racing elements nor the rollable members after the racingelements are initially set into position andthereafter the game proceedsby the turning of a rotary con- ,wardly therefrom in sharply inclined relation.

veyor for presenting the rollable members in position for striking engagement with the racing elements. H I

Still another object of the invention is toprovide a racing game device which is not dependent upon the skill of the players so that children,

and adults may compete with equal interest and opportunity of winning.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, reference is now made to the following specifica- 'tion and accompanying drawings in which the preferred embodiment of the invention is illus-" trated.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a game device constructed in accordance with the invention and illustrating the same with part of the housing in section for illustrating the underlying construction.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken approximately on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional l view taken approximately on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig.4 is a transverse verticalisectional view taken approximately on line .44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken approximately on line 'l---'! of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken approximately on line 8 -8 of Fig. 7.

The invention is shown in the drawings in its application to a horse racing game in which a plurality -of representations of I horses li vvith jockeys mounted thereon constitute-the racing elements I 0. It is to be understood however. that the same may consist of the representation-ofany desired animals or figures.

The game device includes a housing I l consist- ,ing of a bottom'wall l2, longitudinally extending side walls [3 and I4, front and rear end walls l5 and i6, and a top wall ll. The top wall Hextends from the forward end wall I5.in inclined relation toward the rear and terminates in spaced relation from the rear end wall l6. Arranged upon the upper surface of the top wall I! are a plurality of transversely spaced guide tracks l8 for the racing elements H) which guide tracks'are .of channel shaped formation in cross-sectional configuration and extend the full length of the top wall I] and at the rear thereof. extend up- Attheir lower ends the guide tracks l8 protrude beyond the end wall l5 to thereby provide abutments against which pivotally mounted goal members [9 may be disposed in upstanding relation and in position to be struck by the racing elements for overturning the said goal members .so as to indicate the end of the race'and the winning racing element. I

The racing elements are moved in the guide tracks [8 by means of rollable elements 20 such as steel balls which are deposited in the guide tracks at the upper ends thereof. The steel balls gain momentum as they travel down the inclined guide tracks and upon striking the racing elements propel the same forward, after which the balls roll into the guideways 2| formed by the transverse spacing of the guide tracks. Located beneath the top wall I! is a rearwardly sloping 45 wall 22 upon the upper surface of which are arranged a plurality of guidechutes 23 into which .the balls 20 are deposited when the same drop through the openings 24 at the lower ends of the guide ways. The guide chutes 23 extendrearwardly substantially the full length of the housing in angular relation with reference to the side walls of the housing so as to dispose the lower ends at one side of cylindrical conveyors 25 respectively. The guide chutes 23 have side open- .ings .26 at the lower ends thereof for delivering the balls to the cylindrical conveyors.

The cylindrical conveyors are designed for receiving the balls from the guide chutes 23 and for elevating and discharging certain of the balls into the guide tracks I8 while some of the balls are delivered to return tracks 21 which balls roll down the same and are returned to the guide chutes 23. The return tracks 21 correspond in number with the guide chutes 23 and are supported by brackets 28 afllxed to the bottom wall l2 to dispose the tracks alongside the conveyors respectively and in forwardly sloping relation above the guide chutes 23. The cylindrical conveyors also correspond in number to the number of guide chutes 23 and as viewed from the forward end of the device the conveyors are respectively located to the left of the guide tracks I8 and guide chutes 23. The conveyors are aflixed to a shaft 29 which is journaled for rotation in the side walls l3 and I4 of the housing I I and is provided with a crank handle 30 for turning the same in a clockwise rotation as viewed from the left hand side of the device as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The conveyors are provided with any desired number of pockets for receiving the balls 20 from the guide chutes 23. As illustrated in the drawings, each conveyor is provided with six pockets, certain of which such as the pockets 3| are constructed for receiving the balls from the guide chutes 23 and for elevating include opposite side walls 31 and 38 which are arranged in parallel planes and are cantedrearwardly from the open side to the rearwall 36. The arrangement of the said walls is such that the bottom wall 33 slopes away from the adjacent. chute 23 when the pocket has been moved downwardly to its lowest position, as illustrated in Fig.8 of the drawings, so that the balls will roll. from the chute 23 through the side opening 26. and thence through the opening 35 in the pocket. and will rest upon the end wall 33 and against the angularly disposed rearwardly direoted side wall 31. When the pocket is elevated towards a position slightly in advance of its highest position above the shaft 2 9 the ball therein will roll from its said position to the opposite end wall 34 and opposite side wall 38 which walls are angularly directed toward the opening 35 so that the ball will be discharged therethrough and into the adjacent guide track I8. Constructed in this manner, the balls entering the pockets 3| will be elevated and before reaching its highest position. above the shaft 29 will roll into their corresponding guide tracks I8 for striking en- ,gagement with the racing elements.

The pockets 32 are also of cubical formation each having a bottom wall 40 which slopes away from the open side 4| and towards the rear wall 33, of the conveyor when the pocket is at its lowest position adjacent the side opening26 of the guide chutes 23. The pockets 32. also include a side wall 42 which is canted in angular relation from the open side 4| forwardly towards the rear wall 36 of the conveyor. The, arrangement oi. these walls of the pockets 32 is such that the balls will roll from the guide chute 23 through the side opening 26 and thence through the open side 4| of the pockets and will rest upon the bottom wall 40. When the pocket has been elevated to a position approximately from its lowest position the ball will roll onto the side wall 42 which being inclined towards the open side 4| of the pocket will cause the ball to roll from the pocket onto the return chute 21 which will then roll down the chute 21 and again be deposited in the guide chute 23.

The racing elements I0 each include an elongated base 44 which is of a width to slidably engage in the guide tracks I8. The upper surface 45 of the base 44 is inclined from the rear to approximately midway of the length thereof for directing the balls from the guide tracks I8 onto the base for striking engagement against the pedestal portion 46 on which the representation of the racing figure is mounted. After striking the pedestal portion 46 the balls roll laterally down the inclined surface 41 at the rear of the pedestal portion 46. The rear face 48 of the pedestal portion '46 is angularly related with reference to the guide track I8 for directing the balls down the inclined surface 41 and onto the guideway 2| after striking the pedestal portion 46.

In playing the game the racing elements "I are arranged in the guide tracks I8 at the starting position adjacent the rear of the top wall I1, the participants each selecting one of the racing elements. The balls 20 are initially deposited in the guide chutes 23 by dropping an equal number thereof through each of the openings 24. Any number of balls may be employed which would preferably be 32 or 40 when the game embodies 8 guide tracks as illustrated. The crank handle 30 is turned to rotate the cylindrical conveyors 25 so as to elevate the balls and deposit them into the guide tracks I8 at the upper ends thereof so that the same will roll down the guide tracks and upon striking the racing elements III will propel the same a short distance down the inclined tracks. The balls then rollinto the guideways 2| and then through the openings 24 into the guide chutes and are again elevated by the conveyors 25 and the operation is continued until one of the racing elements has engaged and overturned the goal member I9 to win the race and end the game. It will be understood that during elevation of the balls by the conveyor member 25 certain of the balls enter the pockets 32 and are returned to the guide chutes 23 so that the number of balls that are deposited in the guide tracks I8 during the course of the game is uncertain. The cylindrical conveyors 25 are located on the shaft 29 with the pockets thereof disposed in staggered relation so that the several conveyors do not deposit the balls into the guide tracks I8 at the same time. The pockets 32 are equal in number in the several conveyors but the same are arranged in varying relation therein so that during a game the same number of balls may not be delivered to each guide track I8 nor may the same number of balls be returned to each of the guide chutes 23 whereby the racing element which first reaches the lower end of the guide tracks I8 is uncertain.

I rd t increase the uncertainty of the delivery of the balls to the-conveyors 25 the guide chutes 23 may be provided with obstructions such as upwardly projecting pegs 5D arranged in staggered spaced relation and P jecting upwardly in said guide chutes so that gnaw . as the balls travel down the chutes the same engage against the said pegs to prevent the unobstructed rolling of the balls down the chutes.

What is claimed is: 1. In a game device, a plurality of inclined guide tracks-adapted to receive racing elements ly, rotatable conveyors arranged alongside of said guide tracks respectively and having side openin pockets for receiving the rollable members from the guide chutes and for elevating and: directing the rollable members into said return:

chutes and guide tracks, certain of the pockets of each conveyor each having a front wall canted from the side opening in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the conveyor and an upper wall sloping from the side opening toward the periphery of the conveyor when the pocket is in its lowest position whereby the rollable members received in the pockets from the guide chutes will roll from said pockets onto said guide tracks at the rear of the racing elements when the pockets are rotated to a position above said guide tracks, and certain of the pockets of each conveyor each having a rear wall canted irom the side opening in a direction correspondingfto the direction of rotation of the conveyor when the pocket is in its lowest position whereby roliable members received in said last named pockets from the guide chutes will roll from said pockets onto said return chutes when the pockets are rotatedto a position above said return chutes;

2. In a game device, a plurality of inclined guide tracks adapted to receive racing elements and rollable members for propelling said racing elements by striking engagement of the rollable members therewith, inclined guide chutes located below said guide tracks and adapted to receive the rollable members after strikingfthe racing elements, inclined return chutes located below said guide tracks and sloping toward said guide chutes for returning the rollable members received therein to said guide chutes respectively, rotatable conveyors arranged alongside of said guid tracks respectively and having side opening pockets for receiving the rollable members from the guide chutes and for elevating and directing the rollable members into said return chutes and guide tracks, certain of the pockets of each conveyor each having a front wall canted from,the side opening in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the conveyor and an upper wall sloping from the side opening toward the periphery of the conveyor when the pocket is in its lowest position whereby the rollable members received in the pockets from the guide chutes will roll from said pockets onto said guide tracks at the rear of the racing elements when the pockets are rotated to a position above said guide tracks, and certain of the pockets of each conveyor each having a rear wall canted from the side opening in a direction corresponding to the direction of rotation of the conveyor when the pocket is in its lowest position whereby rollable members received in said last named pockets from the guide chutes will roll from said pockets onto said return chutes when the pockets are ',rotated t.c- 'a' position above said return chutes, and saidconveyors being arranged with the pockets in each conveyor disposed in varying relation with the pdcketsin the other conveyors wherebythe number of rollable members received by the guide tracks at the rear of the racing elements when the conveyors are rotated is uncertain and'independent of the skill of the player. Y

3. In a game device, a plurality of inclined guide tracks adapted to receive racing elements and rollable members for propelling said racing elements by striking engagement of the rollable members therewith, inclined guide chutes located belowsaid guide tracks and adapted to receive the rollable members after striking. the racing elements, inclined-. return chutes located below said guide tracks and sloping toward said guide chutes for returning the rollable members received therein to saidguide chutes respectively, rotatable conveyors arranged alongside of said guide tracks respectively and having side opening pockets for receiving'the rollable members from the guide chutes and for elevating and directing the rollable members into said return chutes and guide tracks, certain of the pockets of each conveyor each having front and rear walls canted from the side opening in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the conveyor and upper and lower walls sloping from the side opening toward the periphery of the conveyor when the pocket is in its lowest position whereby the rollable members will roll into said pockets from the guide chutes and will roll from said pockets onto said guide tracks at the rear of the racing elements when the pockets are rotated to a position above said guide tracks, and certain of said pockets each having a rear wall canted from theside opening in a direction corresponding to the direction of rotation of the conveyor and each having a lower wall sloping from the side opening'toward the periphery of the conveyor when the pocket is in its lowest position whereby the rollable rne'm'bers will roll into said pockets from the guide chutes and will roll from said pockets onto said j'return chutes when the pockets are rotated to a position above said return chutes.

4. In a game device, a plurality of inclined guide tracks adapted to receive racing elements and rollable members for propelling said racing elements by striking engagement of the rollable members therewith, inclined guide chutes located below said guide tracks and adapted to receive the rollable members after striking the racing elements, inclined return chutes located below said guide tracks and sloping toward said guide chutes for returning the rollable members received therein to said guide chutes respectively, rotatable conveyors arranged alongside of said guide tracks respectively and having side opening pockets for receiving the rollable members from the guide chutes and for elevating and directing the rollable members into said return chutes and guide tracks, certain ofthe pockets of each conveyor each having front and rear walls canted from the side opening in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the conveyor and upper and lower walls sloping from the side opening toward the periphery'of the conveyor when the pocket is in its lowest position whereby the rollable members will roll into said pockets from the guide chutes and will roll from said pockets onto said guide tracks at the rear of the racing elements when the pockets are rotated to a position above said guide tracks, and'certain of said pockets each having a rear wall canted fromthe side opening in a direction corresponding to the direction of rotation of the conveyor and each having a lower wall sloping from the side opening toward the periphery of the conveyor when the pocket is in its lowest position whereby the rollable members will roll into said pockets from the guide chutes and will roll from said pockets onto said return chutes when the pockets are rotated to a position above said return chutes, and said conveyors being arranged with the pockets in each conveyor disposed in varying relation with the pockets in the other conveyors by the guide tracks at the rear of the racin whereby the number of rollable members received 15 elements when the conveyors are rotated .is uncertain and independent of the skill of the player.

WILLIAM A. MALKAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

